Lint cleaning apparatus



April 6, 1948.

A. s; MGINNIS ET AL LINT CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1945 JNVENTORS a4lbert ii/" 61371221? 4" 7702-13 Benz 4 17% A 'rro mar Patented A1156, 194s um cnmnmc APPARATUS Albert s. McGinnis and Harry Berry, Cairo, n1.,

more, to Industrial Patents Corporation,

1 Ghicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 20. 1945, Serial No. 606,141-

. 4 Claims;

This invention relates to improvements in flber processing apparatus and has particular reference to improved apparatus for cleaning fiber such as cottonseed lint by freeing the fiber of par-' ticles of seed hull, shale and other foreign matter.

In the cleaning of cottonseed lint it is known to' use a cyclone separator in a conduit line through which the lint is forced by air pressure or suction. It has also been known to interpose a bafile separator between the discharge ofsuch a cyclone separator and the intake line of a suction fan which draws the lint from the cyclone. While a large amount of debris can be thus removed from the lint it has been found that in many cases the lint is still not clean enough to meet the exacting requirements for a high quality product 7 which commands the top market prices;

, The industry has thus been faced for a long period of time with the problem of removing from the lint the smaller and lighter pieces of debris entrained with the lint after it passes through the conventional cyclone and battle separators in order to provide a'clean, high quality product,

and, to the best of our knowledge, no adequate solution to this problem has been previously proposed.

It has been found, however, that by inserting a special baflle separator 1n the suction line through which the lint is moved from the conventional separator already in use, a clean, high quality-product can be produced at no additional cost and with only a small, simple and inexpensive addition to the lint cleaning apparatus.

small and light pieces not eliminated by the conventional separators, to thus provide a high quality lint product for those uses wherein especially clean lint is required.

A still further object resides in the provision of improved cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus which cleans the lint in substantially all debris such as particles of hull and shale and also provides beating action in addition to that provided by the conventional cleaning apparatus to provide an improved texture of the product.

A still further object resides in the provision of improved cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus which produces a clean, high quality lint product, and which is economical to manufacture and install and involves no appreciable additional operating expense. r

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings and from the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout: I

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticelevational view of a cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a battle separator constituting a part of the lint cleaning aplo paratus shown in Figure 1, a portion being broken away to better illustrate the construction thereof: and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another baifle separator also constituting a portion of the lint 2o cleaning apparatus shown in Figure 1, a portion being broken away to better illustrate the construction thereof. a

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly to Figure 1, the numeral Ill generally indicates a conventional cyclone separator into which the lint is conducted through theinlet conduit I2 and from which it is conductedthrough the discharge conduit I 4.

As cyclone separators are commonly used and well known in the art, a detailed description is t not considered necessary for the present disclosure.

The lint leaving the cyclone separator through the discharge conduit ll entrains a considerable amount oi" debris, mostly in the form of broken hulls and pieces of shale, but which may include small amounts of other foreign material.

In order'to provide a marketable product it is necessary to remove this debris frornthe lint and this is accomplished by passing the lint through baiile separators after it leaves the cyclone separator, As mentioned above, it has been common practice to provide a single baffle-type separator, such as is indicated at It in Figure 1, connected to the end of the discharge conduit H, but it has been found that the lint leaving. such a baflle separator still entrains a sufficient amount oi'debris to cause frequent rejections of the lint from the higher grade classes of lint product, which dimculty has been overcome in the present invention by the provision of a second baiile separator, generally indicated at 18, interposed in the suction line 20 which extends from the separator It to a 1 fan 22 which is operative .to remove the lint from 55 the separator It. i v

The separator I6 is particularly illustrated in Figure; 2 and may comprise a casing 24 of generally rectangular cross section having at one side thereof an extension 26 of generally triangular vertical cross section. The upper end of the casing 24 is tapered from a generally square to a circular section, as indicated at 28, to fit the lower end of the discharge duct l4, and within the easing, immediately below the tapered portion there is provided a transverse baflle 30 which slants toward the side of the casing, opposite the extension 26, and has a rod like pivotal support 32 which lies closely adjacent to the side of the casing carrying the extension 26.

Below the baflle 30 there is a second bailie 34 mounted on a rod-like support 36 which is disposed closely adjacent to the side of the casing opposite the extension 26 and the baiile is inclined downwardly and toward the extension 26.

Immediately below the lower edge of the bafie 36 the casing 24 is provided in the wall opposite extension 26 with a transverse slot 38. This slot has a length substantially equal to the width of the casing wall and a'limited height, a height or one inch having been found satisfactory, the height of the slot, however, is controlled by a slide of more or less conventional form such as is illustrated at 46 in Figure 3, so that the total area of the slot can be adjusted as may be found necessary or desirable.

A suction pipe connection 432 is connected into the casing 24 just above the flat, generally horizontal, upper surface 44 of the extension 26. This connection 42 is preferably a sheet metal member of generally rectangular cross section and is inclined outwardly and upwardly from the corresponding side of the wall of the casing 24 with its center line at an angle of approximately 45 from the center line of the discharge pipe it, although the inclination of the suction pipe to the discharge pipe is not critical and may be varied within reasonable limits without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

The lower edge of the suction pipe connection 42 is spaced above the adjacent edge of the extension top 44 and the space between the adjacent edges of the connection 42 and the top 44 is left open to provide a transverse slot 46 in the corresponding side wall of the casing 24, this slot having a length substantially equal to the width of the casing of the side wall, and a height of approximately one inch. The edge of the top 44 adjacent the side wall of the casing is cut away to provide a slot 48 which is in eiiect a continuation of the slot 46 and has a length substan .baiiie separator which is the wall remote from the extension 26. As the lint flows over the lower edge of the baiiie 30, the heavier portions of the debris are thrown outwardly toward the rear wall of the casing and some of the debris will fall downwardly through the slot 38. As the lint flows past the lower edge of the'bafiie 30, its direction of movement is sharply changed and it then impinges on the baiile 34 where an additional amount of debris is thrown downwardly toward the baflle. This debris flows through the space between the lower edge of the bafile 34 and the trough-shaped member so and is discharged into the lower portion of the separator l6 which, with the extension 26, constitutes a hopper for the debris falling over the lower edge of the baffle 34. The lower end of this hopper is closed by a suitable gate or valve member 52 which may be opened at suitable intervals to discharge the contents of the hopper into a waste can 54.

The slot 38 and combined slot 4648, serve to control the amount of suction applied to the moving mass or column of lint by the fan 22 and, also, assist in separating debris from the lint, particularly the slot 38. Because of the lower pressure inside the separator it some air will flow into the separator through the slot 38 which flow is sufilcient to prevent the light lint from being kicked out through the slot but is not sufilcient'to prevent discharge of heavier particles of debris through the slot as the travel of the lint is sharply curved about the lower edge of the baiiie til.

The suction pipe connection 42 is connected at its outer end with the lower end of the second baiile separator E8, the upper end of which is connected through suction pipe 20 with the intake of fan 22.

The second bailie separator I8 is particularly illustrated in Figure 3, and is of generally rectangular cross section and is provided with end portions which change the rectangular section to circular section as indicated at 56 and 58. In the operative position shown in Figure 1, this separator has an upper side 60 and a lower side 62. Three bafiies, 64, B6, and 68 are mounted in the separator casing ill with their respective rodlike supports adjacent the upper side of the wall 60. Of these bafiies, the central or intermediate baflle 66 is positioned at substantially the midlength location of the casing 10 while the end baflies 64 and 68, are located near the ends of the casing.

Two baffles, 72 and; 14, are positioned transversely of the casing 10 with their rod-like supports adjacent the lower side 62 of the casing and are located in staggered relation with respect to the upper baifles 64, 66 and 68. Thus the baffle i2 is substantially mid-way between the baffles 66 and 68. All of the bailles, including those in the separator l6, are inclined in the direction of air flow through the separators and are adjustable. Each bafiie is held in adjusted position by a suitable radial lever member as indicated at 16 for the baflle 64 and a cooperating curved detent member 18. The adjusting levers for the bailles 6G, 68, I2 and 14 are indicated at E9, 80, 82, and 84 respectively.

The upper side wall of the casing 10 is provided with two adjustable slots, as indicated at 86 and 86m Figure 1. The slot 86 is disposed substantially mid-way between the pivoted edges of the baflles 64 and 56 and the slot 88 is disposed substantially mid-way between the pivoted edges of the baflles 66 and 68. While this has been found to provide a satisfactory operative arrangement, the exact location of these ed edge of the baiile 12 on the upstream side of the baflle and the slot 92 is correspondingly located closely adjacent to the pivoted edge of the baiile I4. Thelocation of the slots 98 and 92 relative to the bailles l2 and 14 is critical within closer limits than is the relative location oi the slots 86 and 88.

Each of the slots may be conveniently constructed in accordance with the illustrated arrangement of the slot 88 in Figure 3. According to this construction an elongated aperture is provided in the side wall of the casing, the aperture being transverse to the side wall and substantially perpendicular to the side wall center line and having a length substantially equal to the width 01 the side wall and a width of approximately one inch, although the width may be varied without exceeding the scope of the invention. The area of the slot is rendered adjustable by the provision of a slide or shutter member, as indicated at 48, which extends across the side wall adjacent the aperture and has its ends slidably secured in a pair of opposed guide members 84 and 86, each of which may comprise an angle member having one side secured to the corresponding vertical side wall of the casing and another portion overlapping and spaced from the corresponding apertured casing wall by an amount sufiicient to permit the slide member to move freely in the end guides thus provided.

As the lint leaves the separator [6 through the suction pipe connection 42 with its residual amount of entrained debris, it first strikes the baiiie 84 and is deflected downwardly toward the slot 88 through which a portion of the residual debris is discharged to the outside of separator l8. The baiile 12 then deflects the lint upwardly toward the slot 86 through which a portion of the remaining debris may be discharged and the baffle 66 again deflects the lint downwardly toward the slot 92 through which additional debris, if any is still entrained, may be discharged. The bailie 14 then deflects the lint upwardly toward the slot 88, through which additional debris may be discharged, the bafile 68 deflecting the lint downwardly again and 'straightens its direction of travel through the suction pipe 28. The major portion of the debris separated in the separator l8 will be discharged through the lower side slots 98 and 92, the upper side slots 88 and 88 being provided principally to control the suction in the separator and to direct generally transverse cleaning air streams through the body of lint moving through the separator. The slots in the separator l 8 operate in the same manner. as the slot'38 in the separator IS, the air flowing inwardly through the slots because of the lower pressure within the separator, tending to prevent the lint from kicking out through the slots while having insuflicient velocity to prevent the discharge of the heavier particles of debris through the slots as the direction of. travel of the lint is sharply changed in the vicinityv of the slots. The baflies in the separator I8 also provide a strong beating action on the lint which tends to fluff the lint and. work the fibers together to form a continuous body of clean lint fiber emerging from the separator.

The "invention provides a greatly improved method which subjects the lint to a beating and cleaning action in baffle separators arranged in series and to the effect of transverse air currents, so that not only the heavier and coarser part of were formerly left in the lint after-completion oi the conventional cleaning operation are also eliminated.

The improved method provides a double beating and cleaning action while the lint is subjected to low air pressure and the multiple baiiie unit.

' second in the series of baflle cleaners, not only pended claims rather than by the foregoing de- *scription, and all changes which come within the meaning and language of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 4

Obviously, many modifications and variations or the invention hereinbefore set forth may be made without departingirom the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus including baiile means in a suction line through which the lint is moved by suitable suction means, said suction line being formed in part of an elongated tubular member having an upper and lower side when in operative position, oppositely disposed sets of bellies in said tubular member, one set of bailles being disposed along said upper side, the other set of baflles being disposed along said lower side, the upper side of said member being provided with slots between adjacent baiiles, and the lower side of said member being provided with slots adjacent to the front edges of the corresponding baflles.

2. A cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus including a suction line, baille meansin said suction line through which the lint is moved by suitable suction means, said suction line being disposed at approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal when in operative position with the inlet end lowermost, said suction line being formed in part of an elongated tubular member .having an upper and lower side when in operativeposition, oppositely disposed sets of bailles in said tubular member, one set or baflles being disposed along said upper side, the other set of baflies'being disposed along said lower side, the upper side of said member being provided with slots between adjacent baflles, and the lower side of said member being provided withslots adjacent to the front edges of the corresponding baflles.

lower side of said member being provided with the debris, such as hull fragments and shale parslots adjacent to the front edges of the corresponding baiiles, said slots extending transversely across the upper and lower sides of said suction line, and means to adjust the width of said slots.

4. A cottonseed lint cleaning apparatus to be used in association with a cyclone separator and including a hopper disposed vertically below the separator, and a suction line connected to the hopper through which the lint is moved by suitable suction means, said hopper having bafiie means therein to direct the lint falling vertically therethrough in a tortuous path, slots in the walls 01' said hopper adjacent said baflies, said baiiles being arranged in association with said suction line to turn the lint stream sharply through a relatively wide angle whereby to centrifugally throw the heavier particles in the lint stream outwardly just before the stream enters the suction line, said suction line being formed in part of an elongated tubular member having an upper and lower side when in operative position, oppositely disposed sets of bames in said tubular member, one set of bailies being disposed along said upper side, the other set of baffles being disposed along said lower side, the upper side of said member being provided with slots between adjacent baiiies, and the lower side of said member being provided with slots adjacent to the front edges of the corresponding baiiies.

ALBERT S. McGINNIS. HARRY BERRY.

REFERENCES CITED 9 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 268,209 Engram Nov. 28, 1882 728,917 Hicks May 26, 1903 1,042,394 Cheesman Oct. 29, 1912 1,042,395 Cheesman Oct. 29, 1912 1,406,127 Whittaker Feb. 7, 1922 2,140,827 Boag Dec. 20, 1938 2,203,959 Hammack June 11, 1940 2,239,059

Schwartzet a1 Apr. 22, 1941 

